The Philippine men's curling team with POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino in Tagaytay City on February 16, 2025. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The country’s men's curling team, Curling Pilipinas, has brought home a historic triumph after securing the country's first-ever gold medal at the Asian Winter Games, held in Harbin, China.   

The team made history on Friday, February 14, after defeating South Korea in the finals. 

In the earlier matches, the team bested powerhouse teams from China and Japan.   

Curling Pilipinas is composed of Benjo Delarmente, who also serves as the team’s president, Allan Frei, brothers Enrico and Marc Pfister, and Christian Patrick Haller— all with Filipino blood. 

In a media briefing in Tagaytay, the team shared their struggles in preparing for the competition, stressing they had to juggle training with their respective jobs.   

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“This movement grew as we are sitting here as first South East Asian country with the gold medal in Asia Winter Games which is absolutely incredible. For us, as a team, our job is to create success because success is building bridges for the next generation. We won’t stop here,” said Frei. 

“I was so excited and we have to know that old and young teams are more on the ice than us but we have more experience,” Enrico Pfister shared. 

The team also recalled the intense final match, saying that they did not expect to end up with a gold. 

“We know it’s gonna be a hard game for us… somehow we tied it up. It was really emotional for us. It took a lot of pressure on us, and then the final. We don’t realize we do that. It’s just amazing,” said Marc Pfister. 

“This is so much more here in Harbin. So many more people. And also the emotions I experienced is second to none. It was really great to play with these guys. The experience has so much motivations. I put so much effort in this sport,” Haller said, describing all the sacrifices the team made. 

Meanwhile, the team hopes their victory will give awareness of curling in the Philippines, as it is known and traditionally played in winter nations like the United States, Japan, and South Korea. 

Since the country does not yet have proper facilities for the sport, Curling Pilipinas will first promote “floor curling”— a modified game of the sport which suits tropical countries like the Philippines. 

“It sorts of replicate curling. There are like replica stones instead of actual stone. Merong gulong, meron court na parang linoleum siya na you can set up in any gym. And you can actually introduce the sport,” Delarmente explained. 

The team will also collaborate with various universities in the country to introduce curling to students and young athletes. 

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“We will be organizing learn to curl trips or event. We are in talks with Korean curling federation… they have the facilities where we will rent ice. Curling Pilipinas will pay for the ice. We will pay for the interpreter and if needed we will lay for the instructors,” Delarmente added.   

Moreover, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) committed their support to the team, stressing that they will bring this agenda to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

“With this courtesy call, definitely we will request first the journey to Olympics that curling should be included in all the expenses,” said POC President Abraham Tolentino.   

Following a short break for their well-deserved rest, Curling Pilipinas will already start preparing for the Olympic pre-qualifiers in October this year.